08-02-09 PM - Unveiled

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2 COR. 3:6-18 8/2/09 PM
1. THE LETTER KILLS: You’ll die under rules.
The law was given to show man that they are sinners and their need for a God.

A. He gave the law to point people to faith.

B. Many today are still in bondage to legalism.
Living under that kind of scrutiny and weight will catch up to you eventually.
It comes out in several ways.

1. One would be a mental break down under the strain of trying to keep all the plates of perfection spinning.
2. Another would be a moral melt down that would cause the individual to stray far from all they knows to be right and true.

2. THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE: Grace brings freedom!
A. Grace immediately sets you free!
Vs 17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”.

• Legalism says “Try your hardest” Grace says “Trust in God”.
• Legalism emphasizes “What you do” Grace emphasizes “What God does”.
• Legalism depends on “Your resources” Grace depends on “God’s resources”
• Leg/ focuses on “external rules and regulations” Grace focuses on “Your inner heart and attitude”.
• Leg/ is motivated by a “sense of duty or obligation” Grace is motivated by “A desire to please God because you love Him”.
• Leg/ creates “Bondage, guilt, and frustration” Grace creates “Freedom and joy”.
• Leg/ says “try again, work more, give the maximum effort” Grace says “Receive, trust, abide in Christ, rest”.

The main difference is Legalism say “I resolve to become pleasing to God”.
What do you suppose Grace says? “I rejoice because I am pleasing to God”.
Grace sets you free!

B. Grace continually causes you to reflect God’s glory.
The word glory appears nine times in these few verses.
And it means “shining”

Challenge: Some time this week;
Send a note or personally tell someone who you see the glory of Christ in that you appreciate them reflecting Christ so well.

C. Grace eventually transforms you to be like Jesus.